Hello! I am glad to read your blog and learn new about babouvists you inspire me incredibly!!!
Do you have any information about Darthé? I wish I knew him better for my art
Trigger warning: suicide attempt. May be distressing for sensitive readers.
Darthé and Babeuf in their suicide attempt
I'm not infallible, so please feel free to correct me. Also, I apologize if this text is too dense or not easy to read; it's just that with my computer problems, I preferred to publish it anyway, even if it means revising it next time.
Hello, thank you very much for your kind words.
It is true that Darthé is less well known than Babeuf and Buonarroti (although much more so than Charles Germain). There is a short biographical entry devoted to him on the Maitron (though one should be cautious with Maitron, which sometimes relies on a single source, leading to errors in certain biographies, such as that of Marie-Anne Babeuf, or worse, Victor Bach, whose author relied entirely on Jean Dautry, whereas Bernard Gainot has pointed out all the mistakes).
Darthé Augustin Alexandre was born in 1769 in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, in what is now the Nord–Pas-de-Calais region. He studied law and took part in the storming of the Bastille in 1789, during which he was wounded. He later met Joseph Le Bon and became his brother-in-law. Robert Legrand said of him that he shared “Le Bon’s resolute and energetic character.”
In the summer of 1793, he participated in military operations against conscription resisters in the region of Pernes-en-Artois, a movement comparable to that of the Vendée. At that time, he was corresponding with Le Bas, a close associate of Robespierre and Saint-Just.
In 1794, he played an important role alongside Le Bon, who was on mission in the Pas-de-Calais. Their aim was to combat internal threats—foreign agents, royalists, and populations sympathetic to the enemies of the Revolution—through the methods of the Terror, particularly in the regions of Cambrai and Arras, which were suspected of supporting territorial separation in favor of foreign powers (if I understand correctly). He is also said to have served as a juror and later as public prosecutor for the Revolutionary Tribunal of Arras.
Here is an excerpt from the Maitron entry concerning this repression:
“At the side of Le Bon, representative on mission in the Pas-de-Calais, a department that had elected him to the Convention and where he had previously been mayor of Arras, Darthé held important functions in 1794. The two men had met as early as 1792. Their task was now, by all the means of the Terror, to detect behind the French lines any infiltration of foreign or royalist agents, to prevent coordination with the enemies of the Revolution in the regions of Cambrai and Arras, who hoped for—and sometimes actively supported—the Austrians, and who would have accepted the detachment of Artois and Cambrésis from France, whose annexation, in the case of Artois, was only 135 years old in 1794.
Le Bon and his deputy Darthé imprisoned suspects on the weakest evidence. They personally inspected the prisons in search of the proofs they lacked. The botanist Guéroult de Boisrobert, imprisoned in the citadel of Doullens, described one such search by Darthé. The Marshal de Mailly was there with his servant, and the Maréchale de Mailly with her maid—both still attended in prison as they had been in freedom. Guéroult de Boisrobert, after suggesting that Darthé showed interest in items ‘such as silverware, jewelry, and papers,’ admits that this ‘worthy agent of Le Bon’ kept only ‘counter-revolutionary papers,’ which had barely been smuggled into the citadel, a fact that led to the guillotining of the negligent or complicit commandant. Moreover, when Darthé tore up an image of Christ and confiscated other devotional images and religious books, he reportedly told the jailer, upon the prisoner’s protest: ‘Bah! give him back his images, since it pains him so much.’
A juror at the Revolutionary Tribunal of the Pas-de-Calais, which sat in Arras or Cambrai, and later public prosecutor before the same tribunal (21 April 1794), Darthé played a leading role in operations of revolutionary defense that were often blind, but were so only because they were a continuation of frontier warfare in another form. Guéroult de Boisrobert, a mild and well-established intellectual of the time, does not hide the fact that his friends were in the opposing camp—something that embarrassed his editors in Douai in 1895, hostile though they were to the Revolution.”
Unfortunately, the problem is that Le Bon—and consequently Darthé—became the victims of a “black legend,” propagated in part by Thermidorians seeking to absolve themselves of actions far worse than theirs (such as Fréron). Guffroy, one of the main Thermidorians allied with Fréron, seems above all to have been a man who systematically took the opposite stance to Le Bon. When Joseph Le Bon showed clemency, Guffroy called for harsher measures and more executions; later, he reversed his position and accused Le Bon of excessive executions. Guffroy is said to have committed acts of dishonesty and theft (according to Jean-Marc Schiappa and Legrand), and, according to Catherine Dhérent, he denounced Rougeville of Arras because he owed him money (which, according to Christian Lescureux, led to Rougeville’s death and the imprisonment of his son, although both were declared innocent).
Moreover, the testimonies against Le Bon at his trial were inconsistent. Some witnesses holding important offices claimed to have seen nothing during Le Bon’s mission (such as Ranson, public prosecutor of the Northern tribunal), which seems implausible given the dates of their appointments. Others gave false testimony. In addition, friends of Guffroy were among the jurors, so Le Bon’s attempts to defend himself were ineffective.
Darthé and Le Bon were abandoned and denounced by certain former colleagues, such as André Dumont, a Thermidorian allied with Fréron, as well as Guffroy, who also attacked them in order to restore his own political reputation. In short, apart from Louis Jacob, there are still no biographies free from bias against Le Bon that allow us to see beyond the “black legend.” The same applies to Darthé, which makes it difficult for me to reach a definitive judgment about this period.
Here is a Tumblr link where you can find many documents concerning Le Bon and this period in Arras, which seem well sourced (except for those by Lenôtre): https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/780574222159331328/links-to-documents-on-the-le-bon-vs-guffroy?source=share
Darthé was imprisoned during Thermidor, along with Joseph Le Bon, his wife Elisabeth Le Bon, and several members of the Le Bon family.
It was probably during this imprisonment that he met Gracchus Babeuf, who was also imprisoned (and who, although initially critical of Le Bon, later rehabilitated him). Whether this rapprochement was due to Darthé or to Elisabeth Le Bon—whose correspondence with Babeuf I discuss, among other places, in the short biography I wrote about her—remains uncertain: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/796013800067416064/elisabeth-le-bon-loyal-companion-in-the-struggle?source=share
In any case, from that point onward Darthé the Le Bon family and Babeuf were closely linked, whether through friendship or political struggle. According to the historian Jean-Marc Schiappa, Darthé can be classified among the Robespierrists.
After a long period, Darthé and the Le Bon family were released, but Joseph Le Bon was executed. There is little doubt that the loss of his brother-in-law must have been devastating for him, though it did not prevent him from resuming his political activities.
In the excellent thesis by @sieclesetcieux on Elisabeth Le Bas, it is shown—on well-documented grounds—that Darthé was appointed guardian of Philippe Le Bas (son), then aged 15 months, in a document dated 2 Frimaire Year IV, once again demonstrating the strong ties between the Duplay, Le Bas, and Le Bon families.
He subscribed to Le Tribun du Peuple and was a member of the Panthéon Club. Alongside Buonarroti and Drouet, he belonged to the group of conspirators who had already held major responsibilities during the French Revolution.
It also appears that many women in his family were politically engaged, in addition to his sister-in-law Elisabeth Le Bon. According to Sangnier, Darthé’s sisters were denounced in Saint-Pol “for having, on the eve [of the events of 1 Prairial], made remarks tending to revive the hopes of the men of blood and to corrupt public opinion.”
In any case, Darthé belonged to what historian Jean-Marc Schiappa calls the inner circle of the conspirators—alongside Babeuf, Antonelle, Charles Germain, Didier, Buonarroti, Joseph Bodson, Sylvain Maréchal, Simon Duplay, and possibly even Félix Le Peletier and Robert-François Debon. He attended the first meetings at Mathurin Bouin’s house and later took part in the insurrectional committee.
Darthé, together with Debon, advocated a form of temporary popular dictatorship to ensure the success of the Conspiracy of Equals, though this idea was rejected by the other conspirators.
He is described by Buonarroti as “tireless and intrepid, skilled at communicating to others the warmth of his own conviction.”
Darthé was a member of the insurrectional committee along with Babeuf, Buonarroti, Antonelle, Félix Le Peletier, Sylvain Maréchal, and Debon. According to some unsourced accounts, he may also have been the lover of the well-known Babeuf supporter Sophie Lapierre.
He nevertheless made a mistake that would later be frequently held against him: the recruitment of Grisel. Here is an excerpt from the biography of Gracchus Babeuf written by Jean-Marc Schiappa:
“Grisel, in Year IV, was a discontented soldier, somewhat of an adventurer, somewhat of a braggart, with no revolutionary background (he stands out poorly compared to the other conspirators) and no real military record. He was no different from thousands of other sword-hangers; a captain assigned to the camp of Grenelle, far from any real activity, he frequented the Café des Bains Chinois, a major center of Babouvist agitation, where he met Monnier and, above all, Darthé. The following dialogue is reconstructed in the trial of Vendôme:
Darthé: Did Babeuf’s letters and his No. 41 have much impact in the army at the camp of Grenelle? Grisel: No. These issues were hardly known. Darthé: Have you seen any? Grisel: A few. Darthé: What do you think of them? Grisel: I think the author is very intelligent, but not at all suited to addressing soldiers. Darthé: But if you wanted to produce something along those lines… Grisel: I don’t have a printing press. Darthé: We have presses. We will have it printed. I invite you to write something in your own way. Grisel: I could write an address that would be an analysis of Babeuf’s, but in a way far more likely to appeal to soldiers. Darthé: Well, that is exactly what is needed; just bring it to me tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, it will be printed. Grisel: Agreed.”
Here is another excerpt from Jean-Marc Schiappa concerning the relationship between Grisel and Darthé:
“(Monnier and Magnier) introduced him to Darthé as a trustworthy man, capable of winning the goodwill of several junior officers. Darthé encouraged Grisel to engage in proselytism, to spread his ideas, and he eagerly took on the task of distributing among the troops the writings of the Secret Directory. Grisel was soon entrusted with provoking insubordination within the army, convincing the overly trusting Darthé of the purity of his intentions. Soon, he proposed to the Secret Directory the services of an agent at the camp of Grenelle. He was appointed, and the instructions relating to his mission were delivered to him by Darthé on 26 Germinal; this would lead to the denunciation of the Secret Directory and Grisel’s cooperation. (…) This ‘overconfidence’ resurfaced when the Secret Directory decided to create a Military Committee. Until then, Grisel had been a conciliator, not a soldier. A revolutionary party that neither recruits nor acts condemns itself. This is the worst fault of revolutionaries, who are too often mere ideologues, not yet fully convinced, not entirely shaped by doctrine.”
Nevertheless, Robert Legrand reproaches Darthé and the group of conspirators for several mistakes that should have made them realize that Grisel had become a traitor.
When Grisel reported the Babouvist conspiracy to Lazare Carnot—notably a meeting held at Drouet’s house—Carnot understood that, in order to arrest the “Hero of Varennes,” who enjoyed parliamentary immunity, it would be necessary to arrest the entire group present (following Grisel’s suggestion). However, the police went to the wrong address, and the meeting quickly dispersed. This group included Lindet, Babeuf, Philippe Buonarroti, Darthé, Fyon, Massart, Jean Antoine Rossignol, Drouet, Ricord, Javogues, and Laignelot.
Grisel later claimed: “Around half past nine, a cavalry patrol stopped outside the door. I saw everyone trembling in that instant.”
But, as Schiappa points out, when one considers that Drouet was known as a man of action; that Javogues was executed while singing La Marseillaise; that Rossignol, despite all his faults, was renowned for his courage; and that Babeuf remained calm and composed even while being hunted by the police—acting rationally to improve his chances of escape—it is difficult not to doubt Grisel, who had a reputation for exaggeration and self-aggrandizement.
According to Robert Legrand, Drouet even reportedly dismissed the police with arrogance when they arrived too late to make arrests.
However, for the “Hero of Varennes,” events would soon take a darker turn. Some time later, Drouet was in fact arrested in flagrante delicto at Dufour’s house on Rue Papillon, where he was expected to meet Darthé and others—though not as a result of any information provided by Grisel.
Darthé would be indicted at Vendôme. He distinguished himself by joining the group of ten Babouvists who refused to recognize the authority of the Vendôme tribunal, alongside Babeuf, Blondeau, Marie-Adélaïde Lambert, Moroy, Germain, Cochet, Sophie Lapierre, Toulotte, and Cazin. He also signed several manifestos together with some of the other accused. These are as follows:
PUBLIC DECLARATION
Statement made by all the detainees in the House of Justice of the High Court, in response to two perfidious, infamous, and slanderous notes inserted in issue no. 422 of Le Rédacteur officiel, presented as a report emanating from the offices of the Ministry of General Police concerning the prisoners of Vendôme.
There are here neither divisions nor parties, neither quarrels nor fears. A single sentiment animates us; one and the same resolution unites us. There is but one principle: to live and die free, to show ourselves worthy of the sacred cause for which each of us considers himself happy to suffer.
There is also here another general and no less unanimous thought: that the proscribed republican would have no need to see his brothers under unworthy chains in order to love them; but that when he does see them thus, he cannot help but feel for them a more tender love and a reverent respect.
Vendôme, 25 Pluviôse, Year V of the Republic.
Signed: Ch. Germain, G. Babeuf, Cochet, Antonelle, Toulotte, Darthé, Maurice Roy, Taffoureau, Didier, Moroy, Lamberté, Cazin, Fossard, Antoine Fiquet, Rayebois, Blondeau, Clérex, Dufour, Goulard, Boudin, Crépin, Cordas, Laignelot, Ricord, Mugnier, Nayez, Vergne, Vadier, Amar, Fyon, Morel, Massart, Buonarotti, Potofeux, Maurice Duplay, Jacques-Maurice Duplay, Widow Monnard, Breton’s wife, Breton, Sophie Lapierre, Adélaïde Lambert.
There is another circular which they are said to have drafted and signed(according to Victor Advielle, Histoire de Gracchus Babeuf et du babouvisme ).
Circular to Journalists
Vendôme, 26 Pluviôse.
Citizen, there are two sacred things on earth: misfortune and truth. If you wish to know the respect shown by Mr. Cochon for either, read his two notes on the prisoners of Vendôme, which Le Rédacteur officielhas just embellished in its issue no. 422. Every line of these two notes is a lie and a snare. We shall not debase ourselves by refuting the infamies of this report, which, if it is not the greatest of the Minister of Police’s crimes, is at least the most cowardly.
We merely ask you to insert in your paper the declaration which we believe we must oppose to it; it is desired that this declaration be placed immediately following the two notes themselves: such a juxtaposition would say everything.
Democratic and fraternal greetings.
According to his mini-biography on Maitron, this is what is said about him during the trial: “He denied the authority of the High Court and was sentenced to death, more because of his past as a terrorist in the Pas-de-Calais than on the basis of the accusations set out in the indictment by the national prosecutor Viellart. The latter claimed, among other things, that he was the author of a printed pamphlet titled Tuez les Cinq (‘Kill the Five’), allegedly a call for the assassination of the five Directors. In the absence of this now-lost pamphlet, it is impossible to decide the matter, but Viellart’s claims seem highly implausible.”
According to Robert Legrand, he delivered only a long statement, which constituted his political testament (a document I have not been able to locate).
Reading the verdict as reported in the newspaper Journal des Hommes libres: “The two accused cried ‘Long live the Republic!’ Darthé’s blood gushed forth; the gendarmes disarmed him before he could strike himself a second time. Babeuf stabbed himself with a sharpened watch spring; he fell, dying; terrible cries resounded. Everything was in dreadful confusion; Babeuf and Darthé were carried away. Darthé regained consciousness—his wound was not fatal. The blade remained in Babeuf’s wound.”
Nevertheless, it is important to note that testimonies differed regarding the suicide attempts of Babeuf and Darthé. Buonarroti appealed to the people to save them. It seems that Émile Babeuf gave the knife to his father, Gracchus Babeuf, and to Darthé so that they could attempt suicide.
According to Jean-Marc Schiappa’s book on Gracchus Babeuf: “The crowd became agitated and moved toward the accused; the soldiers leveled their bayonets. The condemned—both the wounded and the unharmed—were dragged away by the gendarmes.”
Here is the testimony of the concierge Daude: “Babeuf had thrust into his abdomen an iron point five inches long; it remained there. The medical officer proposed to extract it, but Babeuf refused the operation, which caused him such suffering that his life was feared for during the twenty hours he lived after his sentence. On the 8th, at half past five in the morning, the executioner arrived to carry out his duty. Darthé refused, and force had to be used; he had attempted to reopen his wound, and the blood flowed abundantly. He was carried to the scaffold. Babeuf submitted and showed greater composure.”
Others claim that Darthé was already dead or unconscious when he was executed. It is known that Charles Germain and Buonarroti obtained permission to embrace Babeuf and Darthé before their execution.
After their execution, Bonin wrote: “After the execution, the administration, observing the legal delay, exposed the bodies to the families and the public and confirmed the deaths. Then the mayor designated individuals—among those who had come from the surrounding countryside—to carry out the burial. They were placed, with respect and dignity, in a common grave dug at the eastern end outside the chapel, in the main cemetery of the city located in the Grand Faubourg.”
Buonarroti said of their execution: “They went to their deaths as if to a triumph.”
As for Tissot, he described Darthé in these terms: “Darthé alone combined the opinions, character, and determination of a true revolutionary who cuts down everything before him, as Cardinal Richelieu did.”
For the moment, I have not found any reactions from his relatives to his death, apart from those of Buonarroti and Tissot (a political associate), but I am certain such accounts exist.
As for his physical appearance, despite all my research, I have found absolutely nothing. I'm sure there's evidence of that, given that he was imprisoned and, more importantly, tried, not to mention the passports that had to be issued to mission representatives. But the historians I consulted didn't mention his physical appearance in their books. Personally, though, that's not a problem for the arts and drawings. After all, I've seen some beautiful drawings of Lucile Desmoulins as a blonde, even though she was actually a brunette, and I've seen magnificent drawings of Thérèse Gellé, even though her physical appearance is unknown, which doesn't prevent us from appreciating the drawings.
Further reading:
On the life of Elisabeth Le Bon: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/796013800067416064/elisabeth-le-bon-loyal-companion-in-the-struggle?source=share
On Drouet: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/789529983972507649/life-of-drouet-jean-baptiste?source=share
On Émile Babeuf: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/797365648777953280/the-beginning-of-the-revolutionary-period?source=share
On Sophie Lapierre: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/804946147651272704/sophie-lapierre-activist-of-the-french-revolution?source=share
On Marie-Adélaïde Lambert: https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/805542793423519744/public-declaration?source=share
On Antonelle : https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/761515728971202560/the-political-career-of-the-revolutionary?source=share, his role as juror https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/781747560324956160/antonelles-role-as-juror-during-the-revolution?source=share and his arrest before thermidor it’s here https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/802041947886878720/antonelles-arrest-and-the-beginning-of-his?source=share
On history about Félix Le Peletier and his family it’s here :https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/795835541273935872/what-was-f%C3%A9lix-le-peletiers-childhood-like-and?source=share and how Carnot manage to protect him during the repression of the babouvist is here : https://www.tumblr.com/nesiacha/770487228804759553/f%C3%A9lix-lepeletier-de-saint-fargeau-un-personnage?source=share
Biography of Joseph Le Bon (by Catherine Dhérent): Catherine Dhérent en conférence : Guislain François Joseph Le Bon - L'ARBR- Les Amis de Robespierre
Maitron biography of Darthé: DARTHÉ Augustin, Alexandre, Joseph – Maitron
